• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
RTEC Treecare

RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Serve
      • Government
      • Commercial Environmental Services
      • Residential
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Core Values
    • Testimonials
  • Plant Health Care
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Careers
    • We Are an Equal Opportunity Employer
    • We Welcome Veterans and Military Service Members
    • RTEC Benefits
    • RTEC Is Now Hiring
  • Blog
  • 703-573-3029
  • Contact Us

Busted! 7 Most Common Tree Care Myths Debunked

Resources: Community

With so much information in the world today it is hard for homeowners to figure out what is true and what is not, especially in a complicated industry such as tree care. There are a lot of unsafe practices and wives tales out there that are outdated and dangerous to trees and the people who live in their proximity. Don’t get fooled by the 7 tree care myths below.

Myth 1: All Insects Are Bad For Trees

Beneficial Insect Release

Many homeowners think it’s a bad sign when they see any type of insect on their tree. But there are many insects that are good for your tree and protect it from bad insects. These types of insects are called Beneficial Insects in the tree care industry. One of the most commonly known beneficial insects is the ladybug. Ladybugs feed on aphids and other creatures that harm your trees. There are even Beneficial Insect Release programs that use good insects to fight the bad ones on your property instead of using chemicals.

Learn More About Beneficial Insect Release Programs

Myth 2: Tree Cavities Should Be Filled 

It is a popular belief that filling tree cavities with tar or concrete is the proper treatment to keep the tree structurally sound but it’s actually the opposite. Filling tree cavities with tar or concrete can further damage trees making them less structurally sound and more likely to fall. Trees sway and twist over time causing the concrete/tar filling to continuously rub the inside surface of the tree. This weakens the tree’s inner walls and allows decay to spread. Since these materials do not bond with wood, resulting gaps pave way for trapping moisture. The combination of moisture and darkness creates an environment for fungi to thrive.

Myth 3: Deciduous Trees Drip Sap

Many homeowners have trouble with sap dripping off of their trees in the summer onto their cars and walkways. This sticky substance can be difficult to remove, accumulate dirt, and attract flies and other annoying insects.

What most homeowners will be surprised to learn is that this sticky substance isn’t sap at all. The substance is Honeydew, and despite the name, it has no relation to the fruit. Honeydew is the excrement of plant-sucking insects such as aphids, lace bugs, and certain types of scale. Since deciduous trees don’t actually drip sap, “sap” dripping from your trees (aka honeydew) is a telltale sign of an insect infestation.

Learn More About Honeydew & How To Get Rid Of It

Myth 4: Tree Topping Is Good For Trees

Tree topping used to be commonplace decades ago; however, as arboriculture developed, research has shown it to be a very harmful practice. Tree Topping refers to removing large branches or whole tops of trees. This process stresses the tree and can lead to health decline, structural defects, and infection.

Why Not To Top Trees:

  • Starvation: Good pruning practices rarely remove more than ¼ of the crown. Removing too much of the tree’s leafy portion (topping) interferes with the tree’s ability to manufacture food.
  • Shock: When a tree’s crown is removed the remaining bark tissue, which is not usually exposed to direct rays of the sun, can sustain scalding similar to sunburn.
  • Insects & Disease: Large stubs left after being topped have a difficult time forming a callus. These stubs are highly vulnerable to insect, disease and fungi infestation.
  • Weak Limbs: New growth that sprouts after a larger limb is removed tends to be weakly attached. Weakly attached limbs are more prone to breakage and falling.
  • Rapid New Growth: Topping is typically used to control the height and spread of the tree but it has the opposite effect. The new growth that sprouts are more numerous and grow more rapidly than normal new growth. 
  • Tree Death: Some tree species, like beeches, are less tolerant to topping and will not sprout after severe trimming. These trees will likely die after being topped.
  • Ugliness: Trees are disfigured by topping. Even if the tree recovers from the topping it will never regain the character of its species.

Myth 5: The More Water The Better

watering

Watering is very important for trees but overwatering is just as bad as underwatering. In simple terms, overwatering essentially drowns a plant’s roots. When you overwater you will end up with brown/yellow and wilted leaves, early leaf drop, and slow stunted growth. To avoid overwatering your tree follow our tips below. 

  • Water slowly 1 to 2 times a week.
    • Put your normal hose somewhere in the critical root zone.
    • Turn the hose on to a dribble
    • Leave for 2-3 hours
    • Move the hose to a different spot in the critical root zone and leave for 2-3 hours. Repeat this step 1-3 times.
  • You want the soil to be moist but not soaking. You should NOT be able to make a mud ball out of the soil.
  • It’s okay for some portions of the soil to be wet and some to be dry.

Myth 6: Trees Don’t Need Routine Maintenance

“Trees live perfectly fine in the forest without help so why do I need to care for my tree?” is a common question we get from homeowners. The answer is two-fold. First, trees die every day in the forest. It’s a natural part of forest life and competition. In fact, for every mature tree in the forest, there are many hundreds of seedlings and saplings that didn’t make it. The difference is, when a tree dies in the forest you barely notice in the grand scheme of things but when your newly planted tree in your front yard dies, you are sure to notice. Second, Urban trees actually behave differently and face different challenges than their forest counterparts. Urban trees grow faster, die faster, live in more compact soils, are injured by humans, and many are made for different climates. This all means that your trees need a little help surviving in our urban environment. 

Learn More About The Differences In Urban Trees

Myth 7: The More Mulch The Better

Mulch Volcanoes
Too Deep Of Mulch

Properly applied mulch provides a lot of benefits to your tree; however, if you use too much mulch you can actually do damage to your tree. Piling up too much mulch against a tree’s trunk is commonly referred to as a mulch volcano. Mulch volcanoes can cause increased susceptibility to insects & diseases, girdling root systems, root rot, and even rodent issues. Watch a video on the effects of mulch volcanoes. Despite its negative effects, you can see examples of mulch volcanoes in most shopping centers and front yards, as many landscapers and homeowners are guilty of this type of mulching. 

Learn More About Common Mulching Mistakes 

Need help avoiding these 7 tree care myths and keeping your trees healthy? We can help! Give us a call at 703.573.3029 or schedule an appointment using our online appointment scheduler.

Primary Sidebar

Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

Resources Library

  • Tree Trimming
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Tree Problems
  • Environmental Services
  • Seasonal Tree Care

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADDRESS:
2828 Mary Street
Falls Church, VA 22042

EMAIL: admin@rtectreecare.com
PHONE: 703.573.3029

Copyright © 2022 · RTEC Tree Care · All Rights Reserved

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
  • Privacy Policy
  • COOKIE POLICY